Overview
My research interests centre on the properties and structures of ion conducting oxides, with emphasis on the identification and characterisation of new materials using in- situ high temperature techniques such as x-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques, secondary ion mass spectrometry and low energy ion scattering. This work has potential applications in the development of solid oxide fuel cell, electrolysis and permeation membranes and more has been identified as having application in the field of novel solid state gas sensors. To complement the work carried out within the department my research group is involved in many international collaborations, both in the UK and abroad. In collaboration with the University du Maine, Le Mans, France we reported the first oxide ion diffusion coefficients for the exciting new class of oxide ion conductor, La2Mo2O9 . Links with Tokyo Institute of Technology focused on oxide and and proton conductivity in the hexagonal perovskites, whilst there is a continuing relationship with I2CNER, Kyushu University, Japan focusing on ion transport. Further, we have strong international links with groups involved in ion conducting technologies, including CNRS labs in Grenoble and Bordeaux, IREC in Barcelona and Koblenz. In the field of sensor materials we have had fruitful collaborations with Southside Thermal Sciences Ltd. (Phosphors), and with Professor Ivan Parkin, University College London (metal oxides). The work on phosphor based materials continues through our work with Sensor Coating Systems, Ltd. on developing new materials and understanding their luminescent behaviour.
A significant interest is in the understanding of degradation mechanisms and durability of electroceramic devices. In order to achieve this we are using a suite of in-situ techniques and developing new capability to characterise cells under operating conditions. This was a multi-institution effort including partners at University College London, University of St Andrews and University of Newcastle. Further work on degradation has been funded by Praxair Inc., to develop understanding or permeation membranes, and an international project with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, was concerned with surfaces and interfaces in electrochemical cells. The results from these collaborations have led to a Supergen H2FC EPSRC award to investigate the control of strain in electrochemical devices, in collaboration with Diamond Light Source.
We have also developed new industrial collaborations with leading companies including Ceres (solid oxide cells) and LiNa Energy (Na batteries).
Collaborators
Dr Udo Schwingschlogel, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 2012
Dr Samir Boulfrad, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 2012
Professor John Kilner, Imperial College London, SOFCs
Professor Alan Atkinson, Imperial College London, SOFCs
Professor Nigel Brandon, Imperial College London, SOFCs
Prof Tim White/Dr T Baikie, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Synthesis and crystallography of complex superstructured oxides
Professor Hailei Zhou, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, New materials for fuel cell electrodes
Prof M. Yashima, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Dr Mona Bahout, University de Rennes
Dr Dan Brett and Dr Paul Shearing, University College London, Multiscale in-situ characterisation of fuel cells
Prof Ian Metcalfe, University of Newcastle, Multiscale in-situ charactersiation of fuel cells
Professor Colin Greaves, University of Birmingham
Dr Philippe Lacorre, Universite du Maine, Le Mans
Dr Peter Slater, University of Birmingham
Prof John Irvine and Dr C Savaniu, University of St Andrews, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Oxygen permeation membreanes
Dr Gisele Amow, NRC Canada
Professor Ivan Parkin, UCL
Guest Lectures
High Performance Electrolytes for Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India, 2012
Complex oxide materials as potential SOFC electrodes: new routes to high performance cells?, Universite de Rennes, Rennes, France, 2012
Superstructure, thin films and interstitial oxides: potential for high performance oxide ion conducting materials for IT-SOFCs, 1st WCAM Conference, Beijing, Beijing, China, 2012
Superstructure, thin films and interstitial oxides: potential for high performance oxide ion conducting materials for IT-SOFCs, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China, 2012
Ceramic Fuel Cell Electrolytes and Ion Conducting Solids, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China, 2012
Interstitial oxides: potential for ion transport, oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK, 2012
Electrochemical systems and long duration experiments:durability studies, Diamond Light Source, Didcot, UK, 2012
Phase evolution in composite oxides for energy applications, Zing Conference on Solid State Chemistry, Lanzarote, Spain, 2012
Advanced techniques and materials for energy applications, Loyola College, Chennai, Chennai, India, 2012
Thin film mixed conducting oxides for SOFCs, Loyola College, Chennai, Chennai, india, 2012
Novel complex fast ion conductors: challenges for crystallographers and spectroscopists!, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, 2012
Conductivity and redox behaviour in novel superstructured oxides, USTB Beijing, Beijing, China, 2011
Ceramic Fuel Cell Electrolytes and Ion Conducting Solids, USTB Beijing, Beijing, China, 2011
A Researchers view of Scientific Publishing, STM Journal Workshop, STM, London, 2011
Conductivity and redox behaviour in novel superstructured oxides, EMRS-MRS Joint Energy Meeting, Nice, France, 2011
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, ENSC Lille, Lille, France, 2011
Reversible fuel cells - a route to efficient H2 production and storage, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, 2011
Chemical reactivity and diffusion in oxides for high temperature electrochemcial devices, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, 2011
Ionic mobility in novel materials for solid oxide fuel cells: new structural solutions, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 2010
New materials advances for solid oxide fuel cells, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China, 2009
Fuel Cell Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, 2009
Research Staff
Aguedero,A
Bayliss,R
Bercero,DML
Berenov,A
Celikbilek,O
Chang,DA
Dr Lacey Zhao,AV
Dr Renata Ayres Rocha,AV
Liu,J
Naisbitt,DS
Tonus,F
van den Bosch,C
Research Student Supervision
An,Y, Controlled microstructure of SOFCs
Araguas Rodriguez,A, The Development of Thermal Memory Materials for Mission Critical Components
Bayliss,R, Possible superstructured oxides as fast ion conductors
Blanc,R, Thermal history sensors for high temperature applications
Brooks,I, Combinatorial synthesis of fuel cell materials
Broux,T, Electrical properties of double perovskites
Castillo,D, Understanding key processes governing luminescence temperature memory coating systems
Cazaux,G, Oxynitride niobates as potential photocatalysts
FAWCETT,L, Anode development for high temperature steam electrolysers
Guo,J, Nanoparticle exsolution in layered ruthenates
Harrington,G, Thin film oxides for SOFCs
Harris,C, Novel electrolytes for Solid oxide fuel cells
Inprasit,T, Evaluation of novel SOFC electrodes using isotopic labelling
Lew,M, Layered thin film oxides for SOFC/SOECs
Li,C, Development of interstitial containing oxide ion electrolytes
Li,K, Characterisation of novel fuel cell electrodes
Liu,J, Diffusion in La2Mo2O9 type electrolytes
Munnings,C, Novel Synthesis of New Oxide Ion Conductors
Niania,M, LEIS studies of SOFC cathodes
Packer,R, Development of REMO4 oxide ion conductors
Raj,A, Development of Anode Materials for Electrocatalytic Sytnthesis of HCN
Sayers,R, Novel Perovskite Related Cathodes for ITSOFCs based
Sha,Z, Effect of humidity on the diffusion and surface exchange of OTM materials
Shen,Z, Optimisation of dual phase composite ceramic membranes
Shih,P-C, Novel materials for electrode materials
Soorie,M, Ce doped Nd2CuO4 as a fuel cell cathode
Stuart,P, Development of ceramic proton conducting electrolysers
Tsai,C-Y, Evaluation of layered oxide composites as electrolysis anodes
Wang,V, Cathodic Electrodeposition of Ceramic Oxide Films
Wang-Koh,YM, Proton Conductivity in La2Mo2O9
Williams,N, Ion transport in ceria
Wong,C, Degradation of composite ceramic membranes
Woolley,R, In-situ characterisation of SOFC cathodes
Wu,K-T, Deposition of thin film Ruddlesden-Popper phases for SOFC cathodes
Yatoo,M, Layered perovskite electrodes for IT-SOFCs
Zhou,Y, Ionic transport in NdBaInO4 based materials
van den Bosch,C, Oxygen reduction catalysts for Li batteries